Leon Edwards volleys INCREDIBLE trickshot with basketball while out on a jog ahead of UFC 304 title defence – but fans are split over whether it’s real…

This is the stunning moment British UFC champion Leon Edwards pulls off an incredible basketball trick while out for a run in the park.

This unique volley comes just days before he defends his long-awaited welterweight title at UFC 304 against American fighter Belal Muhammad on Saturday night.

In his last fight, he defeated Colby Covington to retain his title in a dominant match in Las Vegas in December.

Now, footage has surfaced of the trick shot, which begins with Edwards casually running through the park.

In the distance, shouts of “Leon!” can be heard and the UFC champion, dressed in bright red shorts and a black hoodie, responds to his adoring fans by giving them a thumbs up as he continues his workout.

As he crosses a playground, he comes to the basketball court where the group that keeps calling his name is playing.

The MMA fighter raises his arms in the air and appears to say, “Keep going then! Keep going!” as he breaks from his jog to walk onto the court.

One of the contestants then tosses him the basketball, inviting the champion to show off his basketball skills.

But Birmingham’s Edwards produces a barely believable moment of brilliance by placing a shot just before the ball bounces.

The champion hits the ball perfectly and it flies through the air and lands in the net about 30 meters away.

The breathtaking trick shot sends the audience into raptures, with everyone, including Edwards, running around and screaming in amazement.

The fighter then turns to the camera and points to his head in celebration of victory.

After the clip was released, there was a lot of discussion on social media about whether the clip was real or fake, with some even claiming that the footage was edited.

Wade Plemons posted on X: ‘Surely no one thinks this is real lol.’

Another user added: ‘I love AI.’

Meanwhile, IpoArena said: ‘No, that looks fake, brother.’

Others agreed with the welterweight champion’s qualities and claimed the video was authentic.

One user wrote: ‘The way he casually kicks the ball away and it goes in.’

Another said: ‘Ironically this is a better highlight than winning a belt.’

A third said: ‘What an insane amount of power to the left, it didn’t even look like full throttle, lol.’

Meanwhile, an X user acknowledged that the clip was real, but was skeptical that Edwards pulled off the trick the first time.

They said, ‘Yeah, keep a camera on him the whole time… it probably wasn’t the first attempt and this was clearly rehearsed several times.’

Edwards is expected to headline the upcoming UFC 304 fight program in May. The champion will put his title on the line against a fighter who has never suffered a defeat in his last 10 fights.

Interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall takes on Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event.

It is a repeat of the match from two years ago, when the British fighter suffered a knee injury.

Fighting fans across the country were in ecstasy when the UFC confirmed in April that they would be making their long-awaited return to Manchester.

The promotion announced that they have booked their first pay-per-view event in the North of England since 2016.

The huge event is the first sporting event to be held at the £365million Co-op Live Arena, the largest indoor entertainment venue in the UK.

But despite the excitement over the UFC’s return to the UK, fans will be in for a late night with the main event kicking off at 3am (BST).